Pleasant Dreams is the sixth studio album by the punk rock band Ramones, released on July 20, 1981, through Sire Records. While the band members wanted Steve Lillywhite to produce, Sire chose Graham Gouldman in an attempt to gain popularity through a well-known producer. The recording process brought about many conflicts between band members, most notably the strife between Joey Ramone and Johnny Ramone, due to Johnny starting a relationship with Joey‘s girlfriend. There were also disputes about the overall direction of the album, with Johnny leaning towards hard rock and Joey towards pop punk. Ultimately, the album incorporated high production values and varying musical styles, straying from traditional punk rock on songs such as We Want the Airwaves, She’s a Sensation and Come On Now. It is the first Ramones album not to feature any cover songs. Despite Sire’s efforts to broaden the band’s appeal by enlisting Gouldman to produce, the album was not commercially successful, peaking at #58 on the Billboard 200 and only charting outside of the US in Sweden. The album also met with mixed critical reception.
Side One
- We Want the Airwaves
- All’s Quiet on the Eastern Front
- The KKK Took My Baby Away
- Don’t Go
- You Sound Like You’re Sick
- It’s Not My Place (In the 9 to 5 World)
Side Two
- She’s a Sensation
- 7-11
- You Didn’t Mean Anything to Me
- Come On Now
- This Business Is Killing Me
- Sitting in My Room
Ramones
Joey Ramone: lead vocals and backing vocals
Johnny Ramone: electric guitar and backing vocals
Dee Dee Ramone: bass, lead vocals and backing vocals (track 18)
Marky Ramone: drum and backing vocals
Additional musicians
Vic Emerson: synthesizers
Dave Hassell: percussions
Graham Gouldman: rhythm guitar and backing vocals
Russell Mael: backing vocals
Ian Wilson: backing vocals
Debbie Harry: backing vocals (track 15)
Kate Pierson: backing vocals (track 15)
Cindy Wilson: backing vocals (track 15)
Production
Graham Gouldman: producer
Lincoln Y. Clapp: engineer (Mediasound)
Harvey Goldberg: engineer (Mediasound)
Chris Nagle: engineer (Strawberry North)
Keith Bessey: engineer, mixing (Strawberry South)
Harry Spiridakis: assistant engineer (Mediasound)
Andy Hoffman: assistant engineer (Mediasound)
John Dixon: assistant engineer (Strawberry North)
Mark Cockburn: assistant engineer (Strawberry North)
Steve Cooksey: assistant engineer (Strawberry South)
Melvyn Abrahams: mastering
Michael Somoroff: photos
M & Co.: design
Guy Juke: uncredited cover art
Joey Ramone (May 19, 1951 – April 15, 2001)
Johnny Ramone (October 8, 1948 – September 15, 2004)
Dee Dee Ramone (September 18, 1951 – June 5, 2002)
